1. Political Culture
Def: set of widely shared political beliefs and values
Values/Beliefs about Political System
Liberty
Equality-oppurtunity/due process/equal protection
Individualism (limits on this?)
Democracy/Pop. Consent
Civic Duty
Justice
Nationalism/Idealism
If ideals shared, why so much conflict?
Conflict over interpretation or order of preference of those values; different ideologies emphasize different sense of vlaues. Conserviatives endorse individualism/self-reliance while liberals endorse equality/government help

2. Sources of Pol. Culture
Experience with British: mistrust authority/power
Political Parties/Linkage Institutions
Religious Diversity
Family Values
Class
Inherent conflict
Personal freedom v. control
Majority v. minority rights

3. Where Do You Stand? War in Afghanistan The Death Penalty
National Security
Rights of Terror Suspects
Nuclear Weapons
Immigration
Gun Control
Debt
Campaign Finance
Policy Towards Iran/N. Korea
The Death Penalty
Gay Marriage
Global Warming
Abortion
Healthcare
Affirmative Action
Welfare
Syria
Tax Policy
English = Nat’l Language

4. Where Do You Stand on the Issues?
Public Opinion
Where Do You Stand on the Issues?

5. Political Socialization
Process thru which a person acquires their knowledge, feelings, & evaluations of the pol. World (political values)…continual process
Public Opinion = End result of this process

6. Influences on Political Socialization
Family
Most influential earlier in life
Trend of passing on party ID ↓, why?
Media
Huge increase w/ internet; 24 hr. news cycle
Narrowcasting
School/Education
National values
Liberalizing effect of college
Higher levels of participation
Peers & Social Groups
Growing influence around High School

7. Influences on Political Socialization
Region
Political Events
Major events shift thinking—New Deal; 9/11
Religion
Catholics/Jews—Liberal
Protestant/Evangelicals—Conservative
Occupation
Professors/Lawyers—Liberal
Oil Industry/Defense--Conservative
Catholics becoming less solidly democratic
New Deal—shift of minority vote to democrats
9/11—growing willingness to give up individual liberty for security

8. Impact of Demographics
Age
Youth: More liberal; Least likely to vote
Elderly: Highest pol. Participation; Conserv.
Gender
Gender Gap: Women more liberal
Men more conservative
Income Level
Wealthier—more conservative
Race
Minorities—more liberal

9. What’s Meant by Liberal & Conservative
Ideology:
Coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, & role of government
Measure in terms of frequency of self-identification
Gives meaning to pol. events/policies/personalities

10. What is Meant by Liberal & Conservative
Left…Liberals
Social Reform
Govt. Reg. of Economy
Nat’l Healthcare
Pro-Choice
Loose Constructionist
Judicial Activism
Right…Conservative
Social Conservative
Less Govt. Reg. of Econ.
Private Health Insurance
Pro-Life
Strict Constructionist
Judicial Restraint
Dealignment
Trend of more Americans moving to center on pol. spectrum
Elites & Activists (Ideologues):
More Consistent Ideologies
More informed
Intensity of beliefs

11. What is Public Opinion? Def: Uses
Attitudes about instit., leaders, issues, & events
Specific groups thoughts about a certain policy issue or event at a given point in time
Unstable
Many Americans Uninformed
Subject to many influences…What influences public opinion?
Uses
Measure popularity/success of policy
Define issues & guide decisions
What influences public opinion? Groups?
History of trying to infl. pub. opinion
Ex. Federalist Papers
Polls measure public opinion…so what is public opinion

12. Measuring Public Opinion
How are Ideology, Socialization, & Public Opinion related?
How is public opinion measured?
Polls
Elections
Interest Groups
Media Coverage

13. What are polls? What are polls used for?
Measure of public opinion
Track/monitor short term developments; influence strategy
Key Elements to Scientific Polling
Picking a sample…is it representative? Random Sampling
What is an effective sample size?
Contact: When/How?...phone/face to face
Exit Polls
Phrasing Questions…avoid bias
Questions must provide an option
Findings influenced by the process
Pens & Polls: Nicaragua’s 1st Dem. Election
Analyze & Report Data
Margin of Error
Sampling—most use random sampling; however with technology more extensive process

14. Political Polls Tracking Polls: Exit Polls
Monitor short term developments and impact strategies (daily)
Small samples
Exit Polls
Election Day…
What’s a common criticism of Exit Polls?
Polls: A tool for democracy?
Provide way for public to express its opinions
Enables politicians to implement public preferences on key issues

15. Criticisms of Polls Polls transform leaders into followers
Distort Election Process
Bandwagon Effect; Exit Polls
Bandwagon Effect: polls can influence people to support a candidate simply because they see others doing so
Media & Polls
Influences Elections/how public perceives an issue
Iowa Straw Poll
Sampling Error/Quality of Sample
Sample’s knowledge of topic
Can’t measure intangibles (sample’s intensity/ stability of beliefs)
Power of wording
Tim Pawlenty drops out of race after Iowa straw pole
Death Panels—coined by Palin—describes provision of healthcare bill where medicare would pay for patient’s doctor visits to discuss living wills, healthcare directives and other end of life issues (voluntary, supported by AARP)
Colbert Interviews Frank Luntz
Frank Luntz: The G.O.P. Whisperer

16. Power of Words…Frank Luntz
Language Error: “Estate Tax”
Adjustment: “Death Tax”
Language Error: “Relaxed Air Quality Standards”
Adjustment: “Clear Skies Initiative”
Language Error: “Smaller Government”
Adjustment: “More Effective & Efficient Govt.”
Language Error: “Control the growth of Social Security & Medicare”
Adjustment: “Save & Strengthen Entitlements”

17. Media and Public Opinion
How does the media play a role in public opinion?
Agenda Setting (Gatekeeper)
Bias
Source of Pol. Info
Differences between media
Criticisms of media
Oversimplify complex issues
Reduce major stories to sound-bites
Focus on the sensational & trivial
Constant polling leads to…
Polls: Telling America What to Think

18. Pew Research Polls: Partisan Politics, Distrust in Government…What gives?